Package-tie.



C. M. ATKINSON. PACKAGE TIE.

1,1 92,152, Patented July 25,1916.

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bar/ M. KIf/(inso CHARLES M. ATKINSON, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

PACKAGE-TIE.

Specification of Letters Patent. Patented July 25, 11916.

Application filed April 16, 1914. Serial No. 832,368.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, CHARLES M. ATKIN- SON, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of the city of Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Package-Ties; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the numerals of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

This invention relates to an adjustable package tie.

In post office and large commercial concerns it is customary to sort and classify mail according to its destination and wrap the same in bundles in order to insure prompt delivery of the same and reduce the possibility of error in delivery. In the past string or heavy cord has been used for tying the sorted mail in bundles, and although in some instances cord ties have been used for fastening the cord or string in place, nevertheless the cord or string so used has been a large source of expense, and owing to the severe usage given it, it has been of extremely short life.

It is therefore an object of my invention to greatly reduce the cost of wrapping bundles, as well as provide a device which is practically indestructible.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a package tie consisting of a plurality of connected flexible metallic straps adapted to be adjustably engaged about a package.

It is also an object of this invention to provide a package tie consisting of a plurality of flexible metallic straps which are pivotally connected to each other at points near their center, and provided with adjustable engaging means at their outer ends.

It is finally an object of this invention to provide a package tie which will be of comparatively light weight and which may be engaged about and released from a package with slight effort and minimum loss of time.

The invention (in a preferred form) is hereinafter more fully described and de fined in the accompanying drawings and specification.

In the drawings: Figure 1 is a perspective view of a package, and illustrates the manner in which the tie embodying my invention is secured therearound. Fig. 2 is a fragmentary top plan view of the device illustrating the manner that the straps may be arranged when not in use. Fig. 3 is a fragmentary side elevation thereof. Fig. 4: is a fragmentary section taken on line eli of Fig. 1, and illustrates the manner in which the free endsof the straps are fastened together. Fig. 5 is a fragmentary section taken on line 55 of Fig. 2, and illustrates the manner in which the straps are pivoted together.

The device embodying my invention consists of a pair of relatively thin and light resilient metallic straps 1 and 2, which are pivotally connected together by a rivet 3, or any other suitable means in such a manner that they may lie in parallel relation or at right angles to one another, as desired.

As shown clearly in Fig. 2, the strap 2 is somewhat shorter than the corresponding strap 1.

As shown in Figs. 1 and 2, the free ends 4 and 5, of the straps 1 and 2, respectively, are provided with a plurality of alined apertures 6 and 7 which are arranged in spaced relation with respect to one another and are somewhat restricted on the sides nearest the outer end of the straps.

Locking heads or buttons 8 and 9, are rigidly secured to the adjacent ends of the straps 1 and 2, respectively by riveting or in any other suitable manner, and, as shown, the same are of a size so that they may be passed through the corresponding apertures 6 and 7 on the adjacent end of the respective straps 1 and 2, and firmly engaged in the restricted portion thereof.

k The operation is as follows: When it is desired to use the device as a package tie, the straps 1 and 2, are arranged at right angles to one another with the locking heads or buttons 8 and 9, directed downwardly. The ackage to be tied is then placed in a posit on approximately over, the point of pivotal connection of the straps so that its ends and sides will lie in position approximately parallel with the straps 1 and 2, respectively. The short strap 2, is'then bent upwardly and around the center of the package, and the free ends are adjustably secured together by the locking head 9, which is engaged in one of the apertures 7. Similarly the long strap 1, is bent around and over the ends of the package and the free ends thereof are adjustably engaged together by means of the locking head or button 8, which is engaged in one of the apertures 6. To release the tie from the package, the buttons 8 and 9, are simply disengagedfrom the respective apertures, and owing to the fact that the straps are of resilient metal they immediately straighten to lie in their normal position. When the device is not in use the'straps are adjusted so that they will lie in superimposed position, as clearly illustrated in Figs. 2 and 3.

I claim as my invention:

In a device of the class described, a pair of flexible straps having means adapted adjustably and detachably to connect their respective ends to provide a plurality of closed loops about an article to be Wrapped, said straps being pivotally connected to each other at approximately their centers and at a single point, whereby they may be adjusted at a right angle to each other for use or turned to lie in parallel flat relation for storage.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto subscribed my name in the presence of tWo subscribing Witnesses.

CHARLES M. ATKINSON.

Witnesses: 7

CHARLES W. HILLS, J12, FRANK K. HUDSON.

- Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, 1 Washington, D. G. 

